Hopkins Passes on Honda & Yamaha GP Rides

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John Hopkins has turned down multiple offers to ride in the upcoming Silverstone MotoGP as he focuses instead on British Superbike.

John Hopkins has reputedly turned down approaches from Repsol Honda and Monster Yamaha Tech 3 to ride in the upcoming British MotoGP round at Silverstone. HRC apparently approached Hopkins’ British Superbike team boss Paul Denning to see if the American could replace injured Spaniard Dani Pedrosa at Silverstone.

Sources say HRC boss Livio Suppo spoke to Denning at the Montmelo circuit near Barcelona ahead of the Catalunya MotoGP race. And it is understood Hopkins also declined a chance to replace Colin Edwards in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team after the American broke his right collarbone in a practice crash at the Catalunya circuit in Spain during Friday practice.

Hopkins is currently under contract with the Samsung Crescent Suzuki squad in British Superbikes and second in the series behind Honda rider Shane Byrne after an impressive start to the 2011 campaign. He made a shock MotoGP comeback earlier this season in Jerez when he replaced injured Spaniard Alvaro Bautista and finished in a respectable 10th place in a rain-hit encounter.

Apparently Hopkins wants to focus his efforts on the BSB championship while also working on securing future wild card rides with Suzuki later in the season. Our sources report a deal for the Californian to ride a factory GSV-R alongside Bautista in the Brno race in August is close to finalized.

mn88
June 8, 2011 02:10 AM
Is he out of his mind? His whole career in motogp has been on rides that weren't competitive and he passes on REPSOL?? Everyone knows he has the talent to be a top rider he just needed a good ride. What a shame...

bikerrandy
June 7, 2011 09:52 PM
Please remember, it's not as easy as it sounds, jumping on a race bike you have never ridden before and get good results. GP life is not that easy. If it was other GP riders wouldn't take years to finish on the podium. Look at how Spies has done so far this year.

GhostRider11
June 7, 2011 05:07 AM
okay? Tech3... sure turn that down... not much to be gained there! But REPSOL??? John must be in serious relations with Denning. They must be more than family nowadays given their long history together. A lot of riders would jump at a no-brainer opportunity to ride for the REPSOL Honda factory squad. John is doing well in BSB as he waits for his suzuki motogp return. Good Luck Hopper.